Wichita eagle., 1887-12-13
SENATOR INGALLS, OPINION.

OF the multitude Of opinions and con-
victions of the statesmen of the country
touching the position of Mr.. Cleveland
upon the treasury surplus and the tariff
none we have seen covers the points dis
cussed with the clealness and perspecuity
Of Senator Ingalls,, of this state. SAYS
| he: Il think the surplus ought to be re-
duced. but my idea as to its reduction is
far different from that generally offered.
The surplus is a benefit to the nation
rather than detriment. 1t should be a
matter of pride rather than humiliation.
and there mas never been a government
in history which. with people as pros
porous as ours. has had more millions in
its treasury than suf1iced for its need. |
would spend this surplus in lettering
the condition of the country
The senator's plan is to establish a
| ing teachers, as soldiers are trained at
West Point and sailors at Annapolis
! These teachers he would send under
government pay to establish schools
where they are needed to battle with ig-
norance. This plan he regards as far
preferable to the absurd and eXtravagant
and unconstitutional scheme of Mr.. Blair.
but even this plan is open to objection
Next, Mr.. ingalls, would expend the sur
plus in providing suitable coast defenses,
in building up respectable navy. and
in erecting government buildings wher-
ever the government is obliged to pay
rent for,buildings.
To the reply that 1.-The people are COM
planning about the taxes" the senator
made this very sensible reply:
You are mistaken. The people are not
complaining of taxation. The burdens
of taxation" is Il dishonest phrase IN
vented by demagogues They howl at
the burdens of taxation because the
phrase sounds well, and the idea is pop
ular. 1t is the demagogue's stock in
trade. The people of the Unites States
pay their taxes without feeling them.
and those which it is proposed to reduce
in cutting down the surplus" are
those which are least felt and which are
voluntarily paid. The amount con-
tributed by each individual is SO small
as to be inappreciable. This constant
uproar about the burdens of taxation.
Is as sensible as an assault upon the
laws of nature would be by the
assertion that every man is sustaining
an atmospheric pressure of several hun
dred pounds upon every square inch of
his body. 1t would seem like an intol-
cradle hardship if all the other facts were
suppressed. as these demagogues sup
press every other fact in the great prob
lem of political economy with which
they profess TO deal. II you don't care
10 pay the tax on whisky, you can get
rid of 1t by letting whisky alone. If |
don't smoke my cigar. take snuff or chew
tobacco. [ avoid the tobacco tax. as far
as l am concerned. and even were the
tax taken off. don't believe it would re-
duce the retail price of whisky. or beer,
or tobacco. We pay. they say. 81, o00.-
600 year duty ont Of the Sl00. 900. 0o0
worth of sugar which we buy. The fig
ures sound big. and when il is consid-
cred that the tax is levied TO support
the industries of Louisiana. whose
annual production of sugar has
never amounted TO more than SEQ. 0oo.-
600 and the product of which has often
run down to Sl2 900. 200. it does sound
rather Inconsistent But IL the tax were
taken off sugar and export duty would
undoubtedly be levied in Cuba and else
where. and the result would be no
cheaper To the consumer than now. Ii
was SO with coffee and tea. The articles
We're no cheaper after being placed on
the free list The producing countries
paid an export tax. The consumer paws
the old price and the foreign govern
ment gets the profits instead OF Uncle
Sam. As TO whisky and tobacco. these
are purchased by the consumer in such
small quantities that the retail price
would not be reduced.